What started as a romantic getaway turned into one of the most sensational murder mysteries in recent times. The tragic story of newlyweds Raja and Sonam Raghuvanshi from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has gripped the nation, as details emerged of a sinister plot masked behind the facade of love and adventure.
A Honeymoon with Dark Intentions
Raja Raghuvanshi and Sonam tied the knot on May 11, 2025. Just days into their marriage, the couple decided to embark on their honeymoon. Their initial plan was to visit Kashmir, but due to rising tensions and security concerns, they opted for the serene hills of Meghalaya instead.
On May 22, the couple arrived in the picturesque village of Mawlakhiyat on a rented scooter. From there, they trekked down over 3,000 steps to Nongriat to witness the majestic living root bridges. They stayed the night at a homestay, unknowingly approaching a turning point in their fate.
Sudden Silence and a Chilling Discovery
The next morning, May 23, the couple checked out and ventured out again. It was the last time anyone would hear from them. When their scooter was found abandoned outside a café on the Shillong–Sohra road on May 24, suspicions arose. Heavy rainfall delayed search efforts, but the police pressed on.
On June 2, almost ten days later, Raja’s decomposed body was found in a deep gorge near Wei Sawdong waterfall. His face was unrecognizable, but a tattoo on his arm that read “Raja” helped confirm his identity. The post-mortem revealed he had been struck twice on the head with a sharp object—murder was evident.
The Trail of Clues
Following the discovery of Raja’s body, investigators found more evidence at the crime scene—a woman’s white shirt, a strip of medicine, a broken mobile screen, and a smartwatch. With each clue, the case unraveled further.
Call records became the turning point in the investigation. The police found that Sonam had been in contact with a man named Raj Kushwaha shortly before the murder. Suspicion deepened as more connections came to light.
The Murder Plot Exposed
According to police, the conspiracy was set in motion on May 18, just a week after the wedding. Sonam’s alleged lover, Raj Kushwaha, orchestrated the plan and recruited three men—Vishal Chauhan, Anand Kumar, and Akash Rajput—to execute the murder.
Sonam lured Raja to Meghalaya under the guise of a honeymoon, while the killers followed secretly. Everything was falling into place until a key mistake betrayed them.
A Crucial Mistake That Unraveled Everything
The murder weapon—a machete—did not match local tools commonly found in Meghalaya. This detail raised red flags for investigators. Linking it to outsiders, the police dug into phone records and locations, which pointed straight back to Sonam and her accomplices.
Police discovered Sonam’s last known location before she vanished aligned closely with one of the killers.
Arrests Across States
The investigation spanned across multiple states. Sonam was eventually traced to a dhaba named ‘Kashi Dhaba’ on the Varanasi–Ghazipur highway. She had reportedly asked an employee to help her contact her family, which led Madhya Pradesh police to her location. Though she claimed to have surrendered at the Nandganj police station, officials from Meghalaya arrived shortly after and took her into custody.
Meanwhile, the three other accused were arrested from different regions—Rajput from Lalitpur (UP), Chauhan from Indore, and Kushwaha also from Indore.
A Tragic End to a Promising Beginning
This gruesome tale, once disguised as a romantic journey, shocked the nation with its calculated betrayal and emotional depth. The murder of Raja Raghuvanshi is a grim reminder of how trust can be exploited and how love, when entangled with obsession and deceit, can lead to irreversible consequences.
Police investigations are still ongoing, but the case has already left an indelible mark on public memory—part love story, part crime thriller, and completely heartbreaking.
